How to Start Your Own Beer Company

For both the passionate home-brewer and the budding entrepreneur, starting your own beer company can be an enticing idea. A business plan and a quality product are both crucial parts of successfully starting a beer company. Prior business experience is not necessary if you conduct proper research and stick to your plan thoroughly during the whole process.

Skill level:

Moderate

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Instructions

1

Create a quality product and perfect the recipe. Make sure that the ingredients are cost-effective and that you can replicate the taste of the beer consistently. Become acquainted with variations of brewing style, including different kinds and ratios of hops, until you have a finished product that is of the best quality possible.

2

Finalize your recipe. Check with friends and neighbors to make sure that many people, not just you, enjoy the taste of the beer enough to pay for it. The beer does not have to be loved by everyone, but it should be acceptable to most. There is plenty of room in the market for niche-type beer flavors.

3

Create a business plan. Conduct market research via local outlets or the Internet to test the market for your beer. Determine the costs of production and your profit margins.

4

Check with local and state laws regarding business and bottling permits. Often times, your premises will be inspected by a state of FDA official. You will also have to file as a business and pay sales tax and fees, among other similar costs.

5

Acquire outside funding, if necessary. Also, make sure that your production facility, which may be your home or garage, is equipped to handle your planned output.

6

Market your product. Give out free samples. Sell the beer at cost to raise a customer base. Spread awareness through word of mouth. Approach local bars and liquor stores and ask the owners/managers if they would be interested in carrying your line of beer.

Tips and warnings

It is very common to outsource the process of writing a business plan.

Be careful not to create more demand than you can keep up with. Know your supply limits, and aim to have demand for your beer equal or be slightly higher than your supply.